Introduction


Today the world is endangered with countless environmental hazards. The textile processing and dyeing is one area, which appears to cause enormous damage to the environment.The undue pollution load created by the use of synthetic dyes and their hazardous effects have prompted researchers to look for eco-friendly,  Eco-conservation and eco-production products. Natural dyes offer an important alternative in this regard.


Methodology


Hundred percent cotton material with plain weave of 40's count,bleached fabric was selected for this study. Fifteen meters of the fabric was purchased for this study from a reputed mill in Coimbatore district.


Selection of the natural dye


Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is a member ofthe family Arecaceae. Fruit, large brown or reddish fibrous drupe upto or exceeding 30 cm in length,explains Prajapali et al. (2003). The calyx, which is outer floral envelope of the flowering plants usually green in colour remains attached to the mature fruits. These are usually thrown as a waste. The dried calyx were collected,ground to powder in a dry grinding machine and it was used as the natural dye source.


Read Full Article


This article was originally presented in ATNT 2007 held on 18-20, June 2007 at Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, India. The authors are associated with Avinashilingam Deemed University, Coimbatore.